Pain around the kneecap on runs
Builds on hills, stairs and the final part of a run as your form starts to fade.
Runner’s knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, is pain around or behind the kneecap. It tends to build late in a run, on downhills and stairs, and when you stand up after sitting through a movie.
The kneecap glides in a groove at the end of the thigh bone. If the hip muscles can’t hold the thigh steady as you tire, or your stride changes, that groove takes more pressure. Tight quadriceps, the TFL on the outer hip and the tissue alongside the kneecap can add to that pressure and change how it tracks. Imaging often looks unremarkable because it doesn’t show tight muscles or sensitive tendons.
I treat this with dry needling, a form of acupuncture, aimed at the muscles that reproduce your pain. Higher up, a tight iliopsoas can press on the femoral nerve, which supplies the quadriceps and the skin over the front of the thigh. Needling that hip flexor aims to give the nerve more room, alongside work on the quadriceps and outer thigh.
Runners usually arrive having tried rest, quad strengthening, a knee strap, anti-inflammatories, or all of these. Each can help for a while, yet none looks at how your hip holds the thigh at mile 4 or on a downhill. Imaging rules out larger injuries but doesn’t explain why the pain appears at a certain point in a run. Many runners have also seen a PT or chiropractor, and in New York those providers can’t legally perform dry needling.
I ask about your weekly mileage, hills, pace work and the exact point in a run when the knee starts to hurt. Then the exam:
I work with your primary doctor, orthopedist and physical therapist. Should anything I see point toward one of them, I’ll let you know and share my notes with you.
Not always. Imaging can rule out a larger structural injury, and many cases involve tight muscles and sensitive tissue that scans don’t show. See a doctor first if the knee locks, swells a lot, follows an impact, comes with fever, or won’t take weight.
Sometimes quad strength is part of it, but it’s rarely the whole story. Hip control, trunk position and stride affect how much pressure the kneecap takes. The quadriceps can also be tight and weak at the same time.
Often, yes, with some limits. The aim is to keep you running in a range where symptoms stay predictable and settle by the next day. I’ll help adjust volume, hills, pace work and cadence while treatment continues.
It targets tight bands in the quadriceps, outer thigh and hip flexors that tend to guard around a sore kneecap. Releasing the hip flexor can also relieve pressure on the nerve that feeds the front of the thigh. The goal is calmer muscles, so running and strength work feel more manageable.
Many runners start with one or two visits a week for the first few weeks, then space them out. Early changes often show up in stair comfort and recovery after runs. Building mileage back up is usually more gradual.
That often means a key factor wasn’t addressed, or the plan didn’t match your training. I recheck hip control when you’re tired, your stride and which tissues are irritable. Dry needling can then work alongside your exercise program.
Adults with pelvic floor, nerve and orthopedic pain, along with neurological conditions. Most of my patients come to me after other care hasn't fully settled things. If you're looking for general wellness acupuncture, I'm not the right fit.
We review your history and what you've already tried. I assess the muscles and nerves involved, and you're treated the same day.
It depends on the condition. Pelvic and orthopedic plans usually run 4 to 6 weeks. Neurological plans are usually 2 visits a week for 6 weeks or 3 a week for 4. After that, visits space out so the changes hold. These are typical timelines, not promises.
Yes. I work alongside doctors, physical therapists and specialists. If something I find needs a closer look from one of them, I'll tell you.
I'm an out-of-network provider. You pay at the time of your visit, and my office submits the claim so any reimbursement comes to you. Free benefit checks are available before your first visit through the verification form, and HSA and FSA cards work. I don't take Medicare or Medicaid, though some Medicare Advantage plans reimburse out-of-network care. Full insurance details
Yes. I treat adults, teens and children, though I don't specialize in infants or toddlers.
Yes. Book a free discovery call to ask your questions and see whether we're a good fit.
Dry needling is a form of acupuncture. Fine needles go into tight bands of muscle and trigger points to lower muscle tension and change how the area is signaling.
You may feel a brief twitch or a deep ache as the needle reaches tight muscle. It passes quickly, and any soreness afterward usually fades within a day or two.
It's generally safe with a properly trained practitioner. Needles are sterile and single-use, and I check your health history first, including blood thinners. In New York, dry needling can only be performed by licensed acupuncturists, MDs and DOs. Physical therapists and chiropractors aren't permitted to perform it.
Eat something light beforehand and wear loose clothing that lets me reach the area being treated.
Usually not. Ultrasound helps in a few specific cases, but it hasn't been shown to improve results for common trigger points. A careful hands-on exam is what guides the needle. More on ultrasound-guided dry needling
Dry needling aimed at the pelvic floor and the hip and abdominal muscles around it, for pain, tension and urinary symptoms driven by those muscles and their nerves. More on pelvic floor dry needling
Sometimes, depending on the muscles involved, and you'll be draped throughout. Treatment always follows your consent and comfort. I don't do internal exams or internal treatment.
No, though it helps if you've already seen a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist. Bring any notes or imaging you have.
Completely. I've heard it all, and there's no judgment here, just a straightforward conversation so we can treat what's going on.
Yes, I treat adults of every gender and identity. After gender-affirming surgery involving the pelvis, bring your surgical notes and we'll decide together what fits.
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118 W. 72nd St, Rear Lobby, New York, NY 10023
Evidence-based acupuncture and dry needling on the Upper West Side. From chronic pain and headaches to pelvic floor dysfunction, Dr. Jordan Barber pairs the highest level of training with care that actually listens.
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